Invitrogen - Molecular Probes - Figure 8.114 - Schematic representation of wavelength-shifting molecular beacons

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Updated: April 5, 2005

Figure 8.114 Schematic representation of wavelength-shifting molecular beacons. The molecular beacon has two fluorophores on one end — a "harvester" (green circle) and an "emitter" (red circle) — and a quencher on the other end (black circle). In the hairpin loop structure, the quencher forms a nonfluorescent complex with the harvester. Upon hybridization of the molecular beacon to a complementary sequence, quenching of the harvester fluorophore is relieved, and it transfers energy (via FRET) to the emitter, which emits fluorescence.